In early January, while the rest of the consumer technology world at CES marveled at the sheer size of Samsung's upcoming Galaxy tablet, Google execs were dismayed by what they saw on the screen of the massive 12.1-inch slate - a fancy new user interface called Magazine UX.

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Multiple sources familiar with the companies' thinking say the two technology giants began hammering out a series of broad agreements at CES that would bring Samsung's view of Android in line with Google's own. The results of the talks, which have only just begun dribbling out to the public, also underscore the extent to which Google is exerting more of its influence to control its destiny in the Android open source world.

Dilemma. I don't like Google exerting control in this manner, but, on the other hand, anything that - for the love of god - makes Samsung stop building its own software for phones is a good thing. Tough call. Then again, this deal may also simply be another aspect of the big patent deal, indicating that this deal is about much more than patents alone.

In any case, the recent renewed collaboration between Google and Samsung seems to indicate that Samsung has little to no intention to move away from Android, and with Samsung still shipping exactly zero Tizen devices, I have little hope we'll ever see that platform jump front and centre.

Looks like Google and Samsung will team up to fight Apple in the mobile device area. It all makes sense:

Google: Google sells Motorola and gets out of the mobile device hardware area. They team up with Samsung and convince Samsung to promote Google's services. If Google does not do this then Samsung threatens with Tizen and replacing Android and Google services. Google wins because they bring all Samsung devices more into a pure Android experience, which includes using Google services. A big part of this deal was promoting Google Services on their devices. Google gains all these Samsung users using their services, including their big money maker, their ad services. I would expect Google gets out of the hardware business, and sticks to software and patents, which means they will dump the Nexus line, and Google Glasses will be made by Samsung.

Samsung: To challenge Apple they need a ecosystem. They started to threaten to create their own with Tizen. Even with Tizen, Samsung had a huge uphill hike to get a fully mature ecosystem that rivals Apple. Google decides to work more closer with them, and Samsung accepts because they will now have the ecosystem to challenge Apple. Samsung wins because they get a full mature ecosystem to challenge Apple without putting in the time and money to catch-up with Apple which would not be easy. In addition if Goolge dumps the Nexus line, then Google uses them for devices, not LG (Nexus 4 and 5) and Asus (Nexus 7). Possibly either Samsung or Google creates a new name for a group of phones highlighting the use of Google (just like the Nexus line was).

I am sure there are financial incentives for both companies in the form of kick back agreements. So in the end is all fits together for the sole purpose of fighting Apple.

If Nokia was smart in the past, instead of selling to Microsoft, they should have done this instead of Samsung. So it seems after all the recent shifting you have 3 big players: Google/Samsung, Apple, and Microsoft (which just bought Nokia hardware). All three of these companies have hardware, software, and services ecosystem. The losers, everyone else: LG, HTC, RIM, and Sony. Don't be surprised if some of these companies disappear from the mobile device area.